Mt St. Mary's vs. American Predictions, Picks & Odds: First Four, 3/19
The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers will face off against the American University Eagles in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, both aiming for a spot in the Round of 64.
It's time to analyze our Mt St. Mary's vs. American picks and determine which team has the advantage in this crucial matchup. The winner will move on as a No. 16 seed to face the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the first round.
Mt St. Mary's vs. American Predictions For First Four March Madness, 3/19
Both teams have identical records of 22-12, but their paths to Dayton have been quite different. Mount St. Mary’s made waves in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament, achieving three consecutive upsets, including a strong 63-49 victory over Iona, to earn their place in the tournament.
In contrast, American dominated the Patriot League tournament, finishing with a convincing 74-52 win against Navy to secure their conference title. Now, the Mountaineers and Eagles are set to compete for a chance at history. With both teams riding momentum and showcasing different playing styles, let’s explore the Mt St. Mary's vs. American predictions for this First Four clash.
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers: Peaking At The Right Time
Mt. St. Mary’s comes into this First Four game with strong momentum, having won six consecutive matches, including a convincing 63-49 win over Iona to claim the MAAC Tournament title.
Their late-season success has been driven by a stronger defense, keeping their last four opponents below 70 points. Senior forward Jedy Cordilia has been a key player, shooting nearly 60% from the field and averaging 7.3 rebounds per game.
Point guard Xavier Lipscomb has also made significant contributions, leading the team in assists with 4.4 per game and providing reliable ball handling. They will need to maintain this defensive intensity against American as they aim to move forward from Dayton.
American Eagles: Can Their Defense Carry Them?
American University has made it to the NCAA Tournament by focusing on a strong defensive strategy throughout the Patriot League. The Eagles are ranked 58th nationally for points allowed per game, averaging 67.9. They have prioritized controlling the pace of the game.
Although their offense has been uneven, scoring 68.3 points per game (ranked 316th), senior forward Matt Rogers has been a reliable contributor, averaging 17.2 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 55.9%.
Their recent victory over Navy, winning 74-52 in the Patriot League Championship, highlighted their defensive strength, and they will look to carry that momentum into their matchup against Mt. St. Mary’s in Dayton.
How To Watch First Four March Madness 2025
The First Four game in March Madness between Mt. St. Mary's and American is set to start at 6:40 PM ET on Wednesday. Fans can watch the game on truTV or stream it on Max.
This same setup is true for the other First Four game happening on Wednesday night, which features Xavier against Texas. Now, let's take a look at the Mt St. Mary's vs. American predictions, odds, and picks for the matchup.
Mt St. Mary's vs. American Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
FanDuel Sportsbook promptly released the Mt St. Mary's vs. American odds and lines for the First Four game right after the announcement. Here are the most recent numbers:
- Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (+126) vs. American Eagles (-152)
- Spread: Mount St. Mary’s +2.5 (-105) vs. American +2.5 (-115)
- Game Total: Over 129.5 (-110) vs. Under 129.5 (-110)
Mt St. Mary's vs. American Winner Prediction: Mountaineers ML (+126 at FanDuel)
In what promises to be a closely fought game, Mountaineers money line (+126 at FanDuel) presents a great opportunity for Mt St. Mary's vs. American picks. Both teams are quite similar in skill, but the Mountaineers are on a winning streak, having recently defeated Iona, Manhattan, and Marist in the postseason.
Their defense is impressive, ranking 31st in the country for opponent field goal percentage at 40.6% and 49th for three-point defense at 31.2%. This gives them an advantage over American, which has trouble scoring efficiently, sitting at 316th in points per game with 68.3. Although American has a decent defense, ranked 58th in opponent points per game at 67.9, their poor rebounding (341st nationally) could be a crucial issue.
With three players, Adebayo, Hobbs, and Ard, scoring in double digits, the Mountaineers are likely to control the game and make the most of late opportunities. In this evenly matched contest, our Mt St. Mary's vs. American predictions will go with the team that’s playing its best basketball right now – Mount St. Mary’s to win.
Mt St. Mary's vs. American Injury Report & Starting Lineup
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Injury Report
- C. Pacheco (G) – Out: Finger
- T. Ard (F) – Out: Achilles
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Projected Starters
- D. Adebayo (F) – (13.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG)
- D. Hobbs (G) – (12.6 PPG, 3.4 APG)
- J. Cordilia (F) – (10.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG)
- J. Ervin (G) – (5.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG)
- X. Lipscomb (G) – (6.8 PPG, 4.4 APG)
American Eagles Injury Report
- None
American Eagles Projected Starters
- M. Rogers (F) – (17.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG)
- E. Stephens (G) – (10.6 PPG, 3.7 APG)
- G. Jones (F) – (10.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
- C. Smalls (G) – (9.8 PPG, 1.3 APG)
- L. Ball (G) – (3.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG)
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